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Washingtonians demand action against Scotch broom infestation

OLYMPIA — More than 525 residents signed petition asking for mandatory control designation for Scotch broom.

At 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 2, residents will gather outside the offices of Washington’s Noxious Weed Control Board, 1111 Washington St., to witness delivery of a petition asking the board to designate Scotch broom for mandatory control throughout the state.

Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) is a Class B weed. It displaces native and beneficial plants, causing loss of grassland and open forest. It aggressively spreads, replacing desirable forage grasses and young trees. Seeds are toxic to livestock and horses. Scotch broom seeds can remain viable in the soil for 50 to 80 years.

The petition will be delivered to Alison Halpern, WSNWCB executive decretary, and David Tonkin, the petitions author.

“Inaction now will be much more costly later, either in fees and taxes or in the loss of land needed for logging, farming and ranching; for animal habitat; as well as the lost beauty of our forests,” Tonkin said.

The petition can be read and signed at: http://tinyurl.com/broomscotch.

Get more information on Scotch broom, visiit www.nwcb.wa.gov/detail.asp?weed=44.

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